CIVE 374 / ENVE 471

Riveted connections

Design of
simple
connections
Sections 9.1 to 9.9 of Reference Text

Bolted connections

It all started with rivets

Welded
connections

Rivets

Bolts replaced rivets in the 60

60s after about 30
years of research

Documents Manufacture of Bolts

Deals with:

Chemical composition

Strength properties (tensile strength, toughness,..)

Physical dimensions, tolerances, etc

Documents Assistance with the Specifications

Bolted Connections

Documents Use of Bolts in Structures

www.boltcouncil.org

Documents Assistance with the Assistance

www.boltcouncil.org

Structural Bolts

Structural Bolts

ASTM A307 bolts

ASTM A325 bolts

common bolts made of low carbon steel.

Tensile strength, Fu, about 415 MPa.
Tightening of these bolts is done only through
the ordinary effort of the worker, resulting in a
low level of tension developed in the bolt.

Structural high strength bolts made of carbon

steel with a tensile strength of 825 MPa.
Made both in metric and imperial sizes.
The metric size bolts are designated as A325M
and have a tensile strength of 830 MPa

How can we determine the grade of a bolt?

Structural Bolts
ASTM A490 bolts
High strength low alloy steel bolts with a
tensile strength of 1035 MPa.
Metric size bolts of this grade, designated as
A490M, have a tensile strength of 1040 MPa.
Galvanizing of these bolts for corrosion
protection is not allowed.

Imperial size bolts

Comparison of Bolts: Direct Tension

7/8 in. dia. A490 bolt
80

7/8 in. dia. A325 bolt

bolt 60
tension
kips
40

Buildings
Bridges

7/8 in. dia. A307 bolt

20

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

elongation (inches)
Page of 6-158 of Steel Design Handbook

Metric size bolts

Metric size bolts

Page of 6-159 of Steel Design Handbook

Page of 6-159 of Steel Design Handbook

Bolt lengths

Types of bolted connections

Bearing type connections
Bolt threads in the shear plane
Bolt threads not in the shear plane

Friction type connections

Direct tension connections
Grip length
Page of 6-161 of Steel Design Handbook

Bolt pretension
Bolts need to be pretensioned when (Clause 22.2.2 of S16):
1. Slip-critical connections where slippage cannot be
tolerated (connections subjected to load reversals,
connections in structures with rigorous deflection limit
states);
2. Shear connections in seismic areas;
3. All elements resisting crane loads;
4. Connections subject to impact or cyclic loading;
5. Connections where bolts are subjected to tension loading;
6. Connections with oversized or slotted holes unless
specifically designed to accommodate movement.

To = 0.70 (0.75 Ab) Fub

Bearing Connections
P
Shear planes

P/2

P/2

Bolts in shear

Bolts in shear

For bolt with threads not in the shear plane,

Vr = 0.6 b n m A b Fub
where: 0.6 is a shear correction factor
b = 0.80
n number of bolts in the connection
m number of shear planes
Ab nominal bolt area
Fub tensile strength of the bolt

Load Bearing

Br = 3 br t d n Fu
br
t
d
n
Fu

=
=
=
=
=

If threads are intercepted by shear plane,

Vr = 0.6 b n m A b Fub 0.7

30% reduction in strength

Sample Problem
Determine the number of bolts required for the connection
illustrated below.

0.67
thickness of material in bearing
bolt diameter
number of bolts
tensile strength of plate

Bolt Shear
Grip Length = 17.3 + 2x9.5 = 36.3 mm
From Table in page 6-161 in Handbook, it can be observed that bolt
length from 60 to 70 mm would do.
Choosing 70 mm bolts, thread length = 36+7.5 = 44 mm
70 44 = 26 mm unthreaded length
The shear planes are at 9.5 mm and 26.8 mm. Therefore the threads are
in a shear plane.

Bolt lengths

Vr = 0.7 x 0.6 b n m Ab Fub

= 0.7 (0.8) (0.6) (1 bolt) (2 shear planes) (314 mm2) (825 MPa) = 174 kN
N = 465kN/174kN/bolt = 2.7 bolts required
Use 4 bolts

Metric size bolts

What if threads not in the shear planes?

Ab = (20)2 / 4 = 314.2 mm2 ; Fub = 825 MPa
Vr = 0.6 b n m Ab Fub = 0.6 (0.8) (1 bolt) (2 shear planes) (314 mm2) (825 MPa)
(Here only 2 bolts would be required)
Vr = 249 kN/bolt

Bearing
When the tension member is loaded the bolts will bear against the gusset
plate in one direction and against two angles in the other direction. Since the
combined thickness of two angles is larger than the thickness of the gusset
plate, the gusset plate will govern bearing resistance.
Br = 3 br t d n Fu = 3 (0.67) (17.3 mm) (20 mm) (1 bolt) (450 MPa)
Br = 313 kN/bolt
No. of bolts required = 465 kN / 313 kN/bolt = 1.49
for bearing.

Need at least 2 bolts

Bearing Connections
P
The capacity o f the bolts in shear with threads in the shear planes governs the desig
this connection. At least 4- A325 M20 bolts, 60 to 70 mm long are required.

n of

Note: when designing the tension member the following block shear type failures should
be checked.

P/2

P/2

Slip-critical connections

Slip-Critical Connection

Bolts in slipslip-critical connections

connections

Load

Clamping force from bolts (bolt pretension)

region of slipslip-critical
joint behaviour
Load at which slip takes place
will be a function of ?

Slip-critical criteria
Serviceability limit state.
Slip must not take place under
service loads.
loads.
Remember,
Remember, joints must still meet the
factored load requirements (ULS).

Deformation

SlipSlip-critical S16 rule

Follows first principles

Vs = 0.53 c1 ks m n A b Fu
slip coefficient

number of bolts

number of slip planes

Where is the clamping force per bolt?

The terms remaining are

0.53 c1 A b Fu
Now 0.53 = 0.70 0.75
and 0.75 A b A st , the tensile stress area

and thus, 0.70 (Ast Fu ) = the specified

minimum clamping pretension

Only c1 is left to define

Slip coefficient (k
(ks) is not deterministic.
Clamping force (bolt pretension) is not
deterministic.
Thus, both of these have a variation
about their mean value.

Term c1 relates the product of these

two to a selected value of slip
probability.

Example

Recall: We selected 4 A325-M20 bolts

Assuming Tf results from wind, T = 465/1.4 = 332 kN

Vs = 0.53 c1 k s m n A b Fu

Vs = 0.53 c1 k s m n A b Fu

Long shear connections

For A325M Bolts and clean mill scale,

c1 = 0.82 ; k s = 0.33

m = 2 shear planes; n = 4 bolts

A b = 314 mm 2 ;

Fu = 830 MPa

Vs = 0.53 0.82 0.33 2 4 314 mm 2 830 MPa

Vs = 299 000 N = 299 kN < Vf 1.4 = 332 kN

Need 5 bolts

Load transfer by bearing

in long connections

Reduction in Vr for joint length

A reduction is needed (uneven loading of
bolts with joint length)
S16.1
S16.194 used 20% reduction when L > 1.3 m.
S16
S1601 uses a linear reduction with length
Reduction starts at L > 15 d

Placement of Bolts in Connections

Welding process
Welding is a casting process where the consumable (if used)
and a portion of the base metal are molten and allowed to
flow within a joint where they solidify, thus joining the
components.

Welded
connections

Welding thus involves the transfer of a sufficient amount of

energy to the joint in order to raise the temperature of the
metals above their melting point.
This energy could be provided by an electric current (arc
welding), burning of a fuel gas (brazing), friction (friction or
inertia welding), and explosion, to name only a few methods.

Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)

Weld metal
Base metal

Heat affected zone (HAZ)

Commonly known as stick welding
Slow process because the electrode needs to be frequently replaced.

Flux cored arc welding (FCAW)

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)

MIG (metal inert gas) or MAG (metal active gas)welding

Submerged arc welding (SAW)

TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding or GTAW

Provides high quality welds.

High deposition rates can be
achieved.
Used for fabricated steel
members such as plate
girders.

Common weld types

Weld terminology

10

Weld symbols

Page 6-174 of
CISC Handbook

Weld symbols

Weld symbols
Stitch Welds

Weld symbols

Weld symbols

Stitch Welds

11

Weld symbols
Steel Backing

Weld symbols
Beveled Member

Weld symbols
Combinations

Weld symbols
Combinations

Weld symbols
Weld Order

Weld symbols
Weld Order

12

Load vs. deformation response

(of CSA-S16-01)

Welded Connection Sample Calculations

The 12 mm plate shown below is loaded with a factored load of
685 kN. Determine the size of the required fillet welds. Use
E49018 electrode.
Base metal
Weld metal

w = 0.67

Base metal

If we neglect the increase in strength of the fillets with the angle ,

Total weld length = 2 (100) + 2 2 502 + 325 = 666.4 mm

a) Base metal unit resistance (resistance of a weld with 1mm

leg and 1 mm long).
Vr = 0.67 w Am Fu = 0.67 x 0.67 x 1 mm2 x 450 MPa
= 0.202 kN/mm/mm
b) Weld metal unit resistance
Vr = 0.67 w Aw Xu = 0.67 x 0.67 x 0.707 x 490
= 0.156 kN/mm/mm
We know the weld length to be 666 mm. We can determine the
required weld size from:

Pf
685
=
= 6.59 mm
Vr L 0.156 666

13

Dmin : Since t2 = 12 mm

D 5 mm

Dmax : 12 mm 2 mm = 10 mm D
Choose D = 8 mm (Use a 8 mm fillet weld all around).

Page 6-172 of CISC Handbook

Welds b ( = 45)
Vrb = 0.67 w Aw Xu (1.00 + 0.50 sin1.5 ) = 0.156 (1.2973)
= 0.202 kN/mm/mm
This is the same as the base metal capacity (0.202 kN/mm/mm).
What if we want to account for the additional strength from
welds b and c? S16 allows a greater strength from these welds
as given by the following:

Weld c ( = 90),
Vrc = 0.67 w Aw Xu (1.00 + 0.50 sin1.5 ) = 0.156 (1.5)
= 0.233 kN/mm/mm
This is greater than the strength of the base metal. The base metal
capacity governs the capacity of weld c (Vrc = 0.202 kN/mm/mm).

Ductility and Compatibility Requirement

Note 1
Although the strength of the welds at 45o and those at 90o is
significantly larger than the strength of longitudinal welds, tests
have shown that when these welds are combined with
longitudinal welds, fracture of the weld group takes place
before the longitudinal welds reach their full capacity.
Note 2
It is therefore not advisable to calculate the strength of a
combination weld joint based on the increased strength of the
welds that are at an angle to the applied load. The increased
strength given in the design standard should be used only when
the welds at an angle to the applied load are used alone in a
joint.

14